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Egg Producer Creates Task Force On Cruelty Charges

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MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — An embattled egg producer that lost McDonald’s and other customers says it’s creating a task force to review its food safety, animal care and sustainability practices.

Sparboe Farms said in a statement Monday the task force will also develop best practices in those areas for all the company’s production and processing facilities in Minnesota, Iowa and Colorado. The company says the task force will include three employees and three outside experts.

McDonald’s Corp. cut off Litchfield-based Sparboe last week after an animal rights group released a video showing mistreatment of birds at Sparboe facilities. Cargill Inc., Target Corp. stores and the Minnesota-based Lunds and Byerly’s grocery chains also dropped Sparboe.

In addition to four firings announced last week, Sparboe says a production manager also has been relieved of his duties.